The Palestine Chronology

Social/Economic/Political

Arab World: Washington Post reports Yasir Arafat accused Syrian and Libyan intelligence services of instigating wave of terrorism that swept Mediterranean in recent months [WP 1/5; MG 1/6]. Libya officially denies involvement in 12/27/85 Vienna, Rome airport attacks [PI 1/5].

Military Action

Arab World: Israeli troops, SLA militia comb 3 S. Lebanese villages north of security zone, firing rocket-propelled grenades and searching for guerrillas [PI 1/5]. Israeli troops are reported to have moved 30 tanks into S. Lebanon security zone [BG 1/5]. Syria is reported to have withdrawn SAM-6, SAM-8 anti-aircraft missile batteries into Syrian territory from Lebanon's Biqa' Valley [NYT, WP 1/5].

Social/Economic/Political

Occupied Palestine/Israel: IDF close Bir Zeit U.'s new campus for 2 mos. following 3/1 raid [LAT 3/9].

Other Countries: In interview with Parisbased al-Watan al-'Arabi, Chmn. Arafat asserts Israel, Syria holding secret negotiations over mutual withdrawal of forces from Lebanon; cites 12,000 Syrian troops pulled back from ceasefire line after 1st stage of IDF withdrawal as proof of collusion [MG 3/7]. US, Israel reach "understanding" on Israeli request for $2.6 billion in new aid, specifics yet to be arranged [NYT 3/9].

Military Action

Arab World: Action in S. Lebanon: SLA officer killed by resistance in Jezzine [NYT 3/9]. IDF fire rockets around homes in Bidias [LT 3/9]. Resistance fighters battle IDF unit at Qasmiya Bridge for several hours, firing more than 50 RPGs, mortar rounds; 5 Israelis wounded, 1 critically [NYT 3/11].

Military Action:

Relatively light exchanges of fire between unidentified gunmen and LAF in southern suburbs; sniper fire directed at Deir al-Qamar; IDF patrol attacked with light arms, RPGs east of Tyre.

Casualties:

1 civilian killed, 1 wounded in Deir al-Qamar.

Political Responses:

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat says at least 2 Syrian brigades have surrounded his forces in Tripoli area; McFarlane returns to Beirut from Europe via Israel

Military Action:

2 rockets land near IDF HQin Sidon; IDF checkpoint at Damour comes under fire from gunmen in car.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens and Shamir travel to Washington at Reagan's invitation for 3 days of talks.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat travels to Saudi Arabia for meeting with King Fahd; rival PLO units engage in artillery and RPG battles near villages of Taanayel and Jdita, loyalists reportedly hold positions; Gemayel meets Mitterrand in Paris, calls for UN plebiscite in Syrian and IDF held areas.

Military Action:

IDF patrol attacked in Chouf; RPG fired at IDF position near Amik in Bekaa; 2 IDF patrols attacked near Sidon; Syrian forces shell IDF positions in eastern Bekaa.

Casualties:

1 IDF soldier killed, 1 wounded in Chouf attack.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Defense Minister Arens says Reagan statement on F-16s is unprecedented in 35 years of US-Israel relations, forces re-evaluation of sources of arms, reduction of reliance on outside sources and build up of domestic arms industry; Arens also says Haddad must be commander of army in South Lebanon; kibbutz Sde Yoav votes to instruct its members to return Lebanon campaign ribbon; IDF sergeant who refuses Lebanon ribbon sentenced by military court to 6 days imprisonment, reduction in rank; Begin, Arens and Shamir meet Habib; journalist and publisher arrested in Ramallah for possessing large quantities of illegal literature; 6 Gaza students detained for 30 days on charges of incitement while visiting patients in Jenin hospital; IDF limits number of Peace Now protesters at Upper Nablus site to 15.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, in Stockholm, meets Swedish PM, Social Democratic leaders, says he is ready to resume talks with Hussein; negotiations continue in Khalde, Habib leads US delegation; after meeting with Hussein, FM Salem says Jordan-PLO talks have not collapsed, have reached crucial milestone; Issam Sartawi buried in Amman.

US and Other Countries: US Ambassador to Israel says Reagan Administration is determined to improve and rebuild basic confidence between the two countries; Israel Bonds dinner in NY, attended by Israeli Finance Minister, raises $8.8m.; British Foreign Secretary says West Bank settlements are illegal and completely contrary to Reagan plan, might soon make a negotiated peace impossible.

Military Action:

IDF bus in Kfar Sil ambushed by Lebanese National Resistance using rocket propelled grenades and machine guns, IDF returns fire into groves alongside road; artillery, rocket and hand-to-hand fighting in Tripoli.

Casualties:

21 IDF wounded in ambush, bringing total IDF casualties in 3 weeks to 25 wounded, 6 dead, and since Sept. 1, total IDF casualties are 104 killed, 203 wounded; one attacker killed by IDF; 19 killed in Tripoli fighting.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: MK Charlie Biton, at lunch hosted by PLO in New York, calls for Palestinian state on the West Bank, urges US to negotiate directly with the PLO, Israel to cut military spending; Bedouin whose herds were seized in December win order nisi from Israeli High Court calling for Defense Ministry, Chief of Staff and Nature Reserves Authority (Green Patrol) to give reason within 10 days why the herds should not be returned; Palestinian union activists, journalists, writers and poets from Nablus, Tulkarm and Hebron arrested and detained by military authorities now number over 300 in Fara'a prison.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Chairman Arafat in Kuwait calls on Arab states to exert economic pressure on US, then goes to Damascus for celebration of 18th anniversary of Fateh; Lebanese and Palestinian women from Bourj al-Barajneh protest detention of relatives; 3-week training by US Marines of Lebanese Army air assault battalion completed with display of heliborne hit and run attacks; $10 million worth of US military equipment, including 24 APCs, trucks and spare parts, for Lebanese Army arrives at Beirut port.

Arab Governments: Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz says Iraq is encouraging the PLO to negotiate with Jordan, and does not oppose peace negotiations between Israel, the PLO and Arab partners.

US and Other Countries: US expresses official concern to USSR over construction of SA-5 missile sites in Syria, as USSR Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin is called to the State Department to meet with Undersecretary for Political Affairs Lawrence Eagleburger; Senator Paul Tsongas (D-MA) meets with Begin, then Hussein, tells reporters if Syria is obstacle to peace and troop withdrawal from Lebanon, this obstacle must be removed, and that Begin told him he accepts Hussein in the peace process but will never freeze settlements

Military Action:

IDF closes all roads to Aley following new outbreak of sectarian fighting, cease-fire called two hours later; IDF bus hit by gunfire, RPGs in ambush south of Beirut near Deir Oubel. 

Casualties:

Casualties from yesterday's explosion in Shiyah put at 12 killed, 15 wounded; nine Christians buried in Beirut, killed during Druze attack on Christian sector of Kfar Nabrakh three weeks ago and bodies only discovered 2 days ago in well near Ain Zhalta; 1 killed, 1 wounded in Aley.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Attorney-General Zamir rebukes Likud MK Seyger for calling for resignation of Commission of Inquiry (says statement illegal, but parliamentary immunity will exempt him from prosecution); Israeli Science Minister Ne'eman says Israel to set up space agency to build and launch satellites; 2 killed in bomb blast at Israeli embassy in Ecuador; Village League leaders, at memorial service for Ramallah leader slain last year, call for setting up new youth movement in Hebron to support negotiations with Israel.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: PLO Central Council criticizes Reagan plan but does not formally reject it after heated 9-hour debate in Damascus, gives Arafat vote of confidence and permission to continue diplomacy; Damascus- based PLO leaders insist PNC should be held in Syria, call for rejection of Reagan plan; Arafat seeks meeting outside Syria to be free of pressures from Assad; Wazzan charges Israel with stalling talks following meeting between Gemayel and Draper.

Military Action:

Fierce fighting between LNM militia and Lebanese Army along Green Line as final French contingent prepares to leave (during 4-hour battle French ammunition truck on way to port is hit); machine-gun fire, rocket-propelled grenades exchanged in Ras Nabeh area near recently reopened Sodeco crossing point; IDF jets destroy Syrian SAM-9 anti-aircraft missile site in Central Lebanon near Dahr al-Baydar as tension continues along Beirut-Damascus highway (third air strike in four days); guerrillas again attack IDF troops using rocket-propelled grenades in Bekaa; IDF background paper claims 98 Syrian/Palestinian cease-fire violations since July 23.

Casualties:

Fighting burns some buildings; 1 Lebanese Army soldier killed, 13 wounded, 2 civilians killed, several in LNM militia killed and wounded.

Political Responses:

Israel/ Occupied Territories: Israeli Cabinet warns Syria against violating cease-fire or war of attrition, says it will seek to prevent Arafat meeting with Pope; roads extended to new Jewish settlements near Nablus; 3 Najah University professors ordered deported after refusing to sign anti-PLO pledge.

Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat, in Algeria, reviews PLO fighters, plans to tour PLO camps in Syria, Tunisia, South Yemen, and Sudan; Prime Minister Wazzan goes on TV to urge backing for Army; Gemayel issues call for Christians and Muslims to work together.

US and Other Countries: Shultz, addressing United Jewish Appeal (UJA) fundraiser for Israel, urges Israel to remain "open" to Reagan peace initiative, reiterates US promise to not pressure Israel economically or militarily; Senator Arlen Specter (R.-Pa) visits Begin in Jerusalem after talks with Gemayel and Sarkis in Lebanon.